ILMENITE



Ilmenite, an iron titanium oxide mineral, was reported from Sterling Hill by Palache (1935) and from Franklin by Frondel (1972). The menaccanite of Canfield (1889) is ilmenite. It is a very minor accessory mineral and of no economic significance.
Ilmenite occurs as euhedral, lustrous, opaque, black, hexagonal, 1-2 mm crystals and with metallic luster. Few physical or chemical data have been obtained. Energy-dispersive X-ray analysis indicated major Fe and Ti and but a trace of Mn.
Ilmenite occurs in veinlets in the camptonite dikes which cut the Franklin orebody. The crystals are locally abundant within such seams and are associated with calcite and sphalerite. They are embedded in calcite and are exposed by dissolution of calcite in acid.
Palache (1935) reported ilmenite from the hemimorphite deposits at Sterling Hill, but mentioned the presence of Ti and Mn "as well as of iron." It is thus not certain if this material, not seen by [Dunn], is ilmenite or pyrophanite, which was later discovered there. (Dunn, 1995)

 Location Found: Franklin
     
 
 Year Discovered: 1827
     
 Formula: Fe2+TiO3
 Essential Elements: Iron, Oxygen, Titanium
 All Elements in Formula: Iron, Oxygen, Titanium
     
 IMA Status: Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
     
     
 To find out more about this mineral at minDat's website, follow this link   Ilmenite

     
 References:
Dunn, Pete J. (1995). Franklin and Sterling Hill New Jersey: the world's most magnificent mineral deposits. Franklin, NJ.: The Franklin-Ogdensburg Mineralogical Society. p.600

Frondel, Clifford (1972). The minerals of Franklin and Sterling Hill, a checklist. NY.: John Willey & Sons. p.63
     
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